When I first started out with chickens I began feeding what my local supply store carried which was Purina Layena Pellets. That store stopped stocking chicken supplies so I switched over to Tractor Supply's Dumor brand.. after a few bags, I realized that the chickens were going through more and their manure REEKED like two times as bad. I switched back to Layena and then lately have switched between Feather Fixer and Hearty Hen as I have been feeding more food scraps and wanted to up their source of protein. In the summer they also get soldier fly larvae as a supplement as well as supervised free ranging.
I have only been using Hearty Hen this winter, so I can't tell if the smell of the manure is even better because it is winter or because of the feed content compared with Layena. I have more chickens now and I am not noticing the smell as much as I had with previous feeds, so I am wondering if it is because it is soy free? I also feel like even though the bags are smaller, the chickens don't seem to go through it as fast.
Has anyone else noticed a difference in odor and consumption with feed brands that would like to share their observations?
I have only been using Hearty Hen this winter, so I can't tell if the smell of the manure is even better because it is winter or because of the feed content compared with Layena. I have more chickens now and I am not noticing the smell as much as I had with previous feeds, so I am wondering if it is because it is soy free? I also feel like even though the bags are smaller, the chickens don't seem to go through it as fast.
Has anyone else noticed a difference in odor and consumption with feed brands that would like to share their observations?
